WITH just over three weeks of the transfer window to go, Newcastle United’s attack remains something of a work in progress, with Eddie Howe still keen to make another couple of acquisitions to increase his options in the final third. At the other end of the pitch, however, things are exactly as the Magpies head coach would want them.

Newcastle’s defensive overhaul is pretty much complete, and whereas the club’s backline has long been regarded as a source of weakness, now it is unquestionably one of the Magpies’ biggest strengths.

Of the five players that started in the goalkeeping and defensive positions during Saturday’s goalless draw at Brighton, four have been signed since Howe replaced Steve Bruce last November. A fifth new arrival, Matt Targett, would also have played had he not been suffering from muscular damage sustained in the opening-day win over Nottingham Forest.

Last season, Newcastle conceded six goals in their opening two matches, and it was the start of December before they claimed their first victory and recorded their second clean sheet. This time around, they have picked up four points from their first two games and are one of only three teams in the top-flight who are yet to concede a goal. For all that Howe’s attacking overhaul might have been lauded, it is the defensive rebuild he has overseen in the last nine months that has been the most transformative aspect of his work.

“I always think you’re only ever as solid as your defence,” said Howe, after Newcastle had dug in to claim a point at the Amex Stadium. “That’s the foundation of your team and where everything else builds off.

“We’ve changed personnel, added players, and added strength and depth to the group. There are some very good characters in that unit, and I thought you saw that here. We were under the cosh in that second period, and it’s a real examination of your character and ability to withstand pressure when you go away from home.

“Yes, we rode our luck at times, but I thought we deserved too because of what the players gave to the game. Hopefully, we can continue to keep many more clean sheets. We’re going to need to because it’s such a difficult league, and you’re being examined by different teams every week. I was very pleased with the response from the group.”

Nick Pope was the bedrock for Newcastle’s draw, producing a string of important saves that were capped by the sprawling second-half intervention that saw him claw Adam Lallana’s goal-bound effort around the post.

READ: Match Ratings - Brighton 0 Newcastle United 0

Pope was at the centre of a social-media whirlwind last week as his name trended worldwide and a host of major companies and organisations scrambled to join the bandwagon. On Saturday, he was making headlines for his performances on the field, and while Jordan Pickford and Aaron Ramsdale might currently be ahead of him in the England pecking order, there is time for that to change before Gareth Southgate settles on his World Cup selection for Qatar.

“Nick is a first-class goalkeeper,” said Howe. “He’s in a position where Gareth knows him very well. He’s seen a lot of him, so I don’t think there’ll be any surprises from Gareth’s point of view. I think he’ll know Nick inside and out. He’s performed well for England in the past, and all he can do for us is do his best and continue to try to impress and let the rest take care of itself.”

The same is true of Kieran Trippier, and potentially also Callum Wilson, who saw a first-half effort ruled out for the use of a high foot at the weekend as he controlled a bouncing ball in the penalty area.

Wilson also directed a hooked effort wide of the post, but Newcastle spent most of the game repelling a series of Brighton attacks, with former Seagull Dan Burn performing superbly as he shuffled across to left-back.

“It doesn’t really matter where they play Dan,” said a rueful Graham Potter. “You know what you’re going to get from him, so it wasn’t a surprise to see him play like that.”